I have my permit and carry whenever fishing or hiking - for bears, cougars, tweakers and (if in Eastern Washington) rattlesnakes. Only once have I pulled it - on a hike above highway 2 after hearing what my buddy and I believed to be an angry bear we must have disturbed. We never saw the bear, but because I was carrying and drew it we felt comfortable enough not to run which may have prevented a chase response.

"It is better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6."

--Bank Angler